Dallas schools Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is sounding an alarm now that trustees have refused to put a budget increase on the ballot for a second year in a row.

Bottom line: Most of the planned improvements aimed at closing achievement gaps simply won't happen this year because there's "no more wiggle room" in the budget, he says.

What a devastating blow in a city with one of the highest child poverty rates in the country. It puts on hold plans to expand "public school choice" offerings, as well as programs aimed at racial equity for kids of color.

Particularly disappointing: One of the biggest losses in the failed tax election effort was a plan to spread more specialty schools throughout the district. That setback could particularly hurt southern Dallas, where the district's competition with public charter schools is most fierce.

We share Hinojosa's frustration, and we expect most voters do, too; polls show a majority would be willing to pay a little more to improve the district, particularly since it's getting no extra help from the state. We supported a 13-cent tax increase — or a compromise increase of 6 cents in order to raise millions of sorely needed dollars for students.

Hinojosa and his staff are smart to prioritize the district's most critical needs. He says they're working to find the $7 million needed to improve the dyslexia program. And he's focused on getting and keeping schools off the state's "improvement required" list. (The district has shown impressive progress in this area, reducing the number of schools on the list from 43 in 2014 to 14 this year.)

Next week, firm enrollment figures are due — and a lot is riding on them. The district projected to lose about 500 students this year. If many more than that have fled, the district will be in "crisis mode," Hinojosa says, which will mean deep cuts. He already cut $60 million in spending last year — including many librarians — to save the district's expanded pre-K and early-college high school programs.

What can residents do?

1. Speak loud and often on what kind of school leaders you want at election time next year. Trustees Lew Blackburn, Joyce Foreman and Bernadette Nutall voted against allowing voters to have a say, while fellow opponent Audrey Pinkerton didn't attend the meeting. Nutall is up for re-election in 2018 and already has two credible opponents.

2. Volunteer, or write a check. Surveys show that taxpayers are willing to pay more. There's nothing stopping you from investing your time and money now.

3. Get involved in one of the dozens of organizations working to improve Dallas schools. The Strong Schools Strong Dallas coalition is a good place to start.

Strong public schools are essential to improving the health of this entire city. There's too much at stake not to do everything we can to give these kids a better chance at success.